This Mediterranean Smoked Cornish Game Hens Recipe, is one of my family’s favorite ways to eat Cornish game hens! I love picking up cornish game hens when they are on sale. Cornish Game Hens make for a fun, unique twist on dinner.
(I have included affiliate links to products I love. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.) In addition, this post contains affiliate links that will make me a small commission when used to order online.
Ever since I was given a 12 Piece Set of Spiceology spices for Christmas, I have loved trying them out! I love that they are a small business out of Spokane, WA, meaning are PNW as well!! You can also grab their spices from Amazon (See them -> here) or their own website (See them ->here). We found Mother Plucker in a coastal town and I plan to order a couple more out of the Sasquatch Line of Spiceology, so good on smoked chicken.
Global Flavors Variety Pack – 6 Mini Rub JarsKorean BBQ BlendSasquatch BBQ | PNW
What is a Cornish Game Hen?
A cornish game hen is a particular variety of boiler chicken, it is served young and immature. Typically they are less than 2 pounds in weight but they are not game birds. They are like miniature chickens, perfect for a single serving. They are most often found in the frozen section of the grocery store.
Mediterranean Smoked Cornish Game Hens Ingredients:
More About Spiceology Greek Freak Seasoning
My favorite dish to put Spiceology Greek Freak Seasoning is chicken! This seasoning would also be unique in a breakfast dish, fish, pasta, and many other dishes!! This seasoning is a no-salt Mediterranean seasoning! Greek Freak is a seasoning with sun-dried tomatoes, chili pepper, orange peels, and other herbs!
how to cook cornish hens on a pit boss pellet grill:
Now when we buy Cornish Game Hens, they are frozen. Pull your cornish game hens to thaw out following food safety guidelines.
Once the hens are thawed, rub them down with olive oil and place your oiled hen in a container.
Season to taste with Spicecology Greek Freak, salt, and pepper.
Allow the Cornish Game Hens to set for at least a couple of hours. I tend to season them the night before smoking.
Be sure to keep them in the fridge if you aren’t smoking in a short time frame.
An hour before you are ready to smoke the hens, remove them from the fridge, this allows them to get up to room temperature.
Now one thing I have learned over the years is to cook to temperature, not for a set amount of time. I have fallen in love with my Pit Boss Pro 1100 from Lowes, if you don’t have Lowes, Walmart, and Amazon carry other Pit Boss options or Pit Boss website themselves. I love that I can set it at 225 with smoke and run inside and take a shower or prep sides, and it just cooks my meat with an amazing smoke flavor!
Start your smoker up and get it rolling smoke. I used Pit Boss Grills Mesquite pellets, but you can use any flavor of pellets to smoke your chicken.
Money and time-saving tips from the old lady. If you order pellets online from Walmart and spend $35, they will drop them off at your door for free!! Their everyday price on pit boss pellets is amazing, plus the expert grill brand has a great price. (see them ->here)
Once I have my Pellet Grill rolling smoke, I left it on the smoke setting with a P Setting at P7.
Set your Cornish Game Hens in your smoker and allow them to smoke. They will slowly increase in temperature by default, but this is also cold smoking because there isn’t active heat.
When you are close to wanting to eat, turn the smoker up to 225 degrees.
As the Cornish Game Hens cook, rotate the hens and flip them as needed.
Use a meat thermometer to check that your chicken has cooked to 165 degrees. (I love this one ->here on Amazon)
Remove and serve!!!
How to Store leftover Smoked Cornish Game Hens
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. The remainder meat will be good for two to four days if stored properly. You can also debone the cornish game hens and freeze the meat. I would use the remaining meat within 30 days after freezing.
Storing leftovers properly requires the right tools! My preferred storage method is if the leftovers can be sealed in a food saver. If not, then an air-tight container or Ziploc bag for the fridge is the way I go. The air-tight container and a freezer Ziploc bag are the next best bet for freezing the leftovers. I also use a food scale to measure portions into serving sizes.
Freezable storage ContainersFood SealerFreezer BagsFood Scale
What To Serve With Smoked Cornish Game Hens:
The sky is the limit on What to serve with Cornish game hens, starches and vegetables are my go-to! See my list of ideas -> here.
Side Dish: Caesar Salad, Rice, Smoked Baked Potatoes, Smoked Deviled Eggs, Grilled Twice Baked Potatoes, Smoked Potato Salad, Oven Roasted Potatoes, and Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad
Desserts: Pumpkin Bundt Cake, Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bakes, Pink Fluff, Oreo Fluff, 2 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge, Cake Mix Cookies, Ice Cream Floats, Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake
Other Smoked Cornish Game Hen Recipes
- Sweet And Spicy Cornish Game Hens
- Mediterranean Smoked Cornish Game Hens
- Cold Smoked Cornish Game Hens
- Coca-Cola Brined Smoked Cornish Game Hens
- Smoked Cornish Game Hens Brine
Mediterranean Smoked Cornish Game Hens Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Cornish Game Hens
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- Greek Freak
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Pull your cornish game hens to thaw out if frozen, I leave mine in the fridge for a day or on the counter.
- Once thawed rub down with olive oil and place your oiled hen in a container.
- Season to taste with Spicecology Greek Freak, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Allow to the Cornish Game Hens to set for at least a couple hours. I tend to season them the night before smoking. Keep them in the fridge if you aren’t smoking in a short time frame.
- An hour before you are ready to smoke the hens remove them from the fridge, this allows
- I smoked these on a Pit Boss Pro 1100 but this can be done on any smoker.
- Start your smoker up and get it rolling smoke. I used Pit Boss Grills Mesquite pellets but you can use any flavor of pellets to smoke your chicken.
- Once I get my Pellet Grill rolling smoke I left it on the smoke setting with a P Setting at P7.
- Set your Cornish Game Hens in your smoker and allow them to smoke. They will slowly start to increase in temperature by default but this is also cold smoking because there isn't an active heat.
- When you are close to wanting to heat turn the smoker up to 225 degrees.
- As the Cornish Game Hens cook be sure to rotate the hens and flip them as needed.
- Use a meat thermometer to check that your chicken has cooked to 165 degrees.
- Remove and serve!!!
Leave a Reply